Should I declare non-german income in tax refund?

[nanay 3]

Hi All,

 

I was employed in Germany from 2018 to 31.07.2022. After that, I moved to Zurich and I am working here.

 

I have to do a tax 2022 declaration for Germany. Should I declare my income in Zurich? If so why? I don't want to do that. Can authorities see my income in Zurich? 

 

Thanks 

[Straightpoop 676]

On 29.1.2023, 07:37:42, nanay said:

Should I declare my income in Zurich? If so why?

 

Yep.

 

Because the tax rate on the income you earned in Germany before your termination of German tax residency (Wegzug) will be determined by adding to it your income earned in the remainder of the year in which you left.  This is called Progressionsvorbehalt.

 

The same principal applies to the year in which you arrive in Germany and become a tax resident. The income earned elsewhere in the portion of the year before your arrival gets added to the German income to determine a (usually higher) rate of German tax on the German income.

 

[nanay 3]

I understood that, but still why should I declare my non-German income? There is no benefit for me.

There is no way they will know that. If I don't declare it, my tax bracket in German will be lower. 

[Gold and a Pager 17]

On 2/4/2023, 7:39:34, nanay said:

I understood that, but still why should I declare my non-German income? There is no benefit for me.

There is no way they will know that. If I don't declare it, my tax bracket in German will be lower. 

 

Because not doing so is tax fraud (which is illegal) and if you were audited they would find out. Will that happen? Probably not, but the possibility is >0%.

 

I mean, there's also the whole argument about how we live in a society and are all indebted to it in one way or another (no man is an island) and paying taxes in full is how we pay that back, but that's for another thread.

[snowingagain 5,189]

On 29.1.2023, 13:37:42, nanay said:

Can authorities see my income in Zurich? 

The tax authorities in the EU share financial info on residents with other countries including Switzerland, since 2018.  

[Gambatte 897]

On 2/4/2023, 7:39:34, nanay said:

There is no way they will know that.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

It's not Christmas.

Your bank abroad has probably already informed them.